Nice! I recently tried charcoal and ended up loving it, the only issue I had with it is the mess it left on my painting easel so I started building a portable easel just for charcoal that will hopefully be ready by the end of the week because I'm dying to use it again.
I found the best results from compressed charcoal. But just to ease the black mess I have reverted to conte crayon. Here is a recent example - Twenty minutes 50 x 70 cm (20"x30") on newsprint, conte crayon.
I aim to get about five shades (core shadow, cast shadow, two midtones and a highlight). White chalk (conte crayon) will boost highlights, as it does in the drawing above. Blending is just as easy as charcoal. Try the soft variety or use a paper with a bit of tooth. Newsprint is just fine, around 10c a sheet, great for layouts, Do half a dozen quick studies and build on the best.
Encourages play and experiment when you don't need to worry about expensive materials.
Easy to erase with a rubber, tissue or with your hand. Keepers should be stabilized with a fixative spray.
I need a lot of paper to get my foreshortened models looking human.
![[Deleted User]](https://w3.vanillicon.com/3f6c158e813f9c363a4a9816eab0b931_100.png)
Comments
I found the best results from compressed charcoal.
But just to ease the black mess I have reverted to conte crayon.
Here is a recent example - Twenty minutes 50 x 70 cm (20"x30") on newsprint, conte crayon.
Denis
the paper is smooth..
This was done with charcoal pencils..
@dencal I have tried conte but it's hard to blend...
I aim to get about five shades (core shadow, cast shadow, two midtones and a highlight).
White chalk (conte crayon) will boost highlights, as it does in the drawing above.
Blending is just as easy as charcoal. Try the soft variety or use a paper with a bit of tooth.
Newsprint is just fine, around 10c a sheet, great for layouts, Do half a dozen quick studies and build on the best.
Encourages play and experiment when you don't need to worry about expensive materials.
Easy to erase with a rubber, tissue or with your hand. Keepers should be stabilized with a fixative spray.
I need a lot of paper to get my foreshortened models looking human.
Denis